9:47 PM
Editor
Rainbow is the arc of colors and manifestation of God’s beauty and
logic; an illusory hope that keep demise at bay; an assortment of
diversity and differences existing in harmony. Locally it is known as
vissaradhuni, which can be literally translated as the arrow of rain.
And the irony of it all is in that they say straight as an arrow yet
rainbow is used throughout the world as a symbol of gay and lesbian pride.
The colours of rainbow have a special meaning for me, especially since I live in Maldives and do not have the luxury or the desire to flee the country like many in my situation has done. The spirit in yellow, the celebration in green, the diversity in purple, the courage in red, the equality in blue, and the community the colour aqua represents and the joy of orange is where my hopes and dreams lie.
Being gay in Maldives is difficult. But I and my fellow gay and lesbian brothers and sisters need to make our existence more known despite the difficulties; maybe in the form of an FB status, a profile picture or maybe a blog post. In order to grow and become a full human we need to embrace our whole selves, including our sexuality. I realized that, in order to reach my maximum potential I needed to embrace my sexuality. Maybe not scream that out from the rooftops, but by taking the first and most important step of it all, by stop lying to myself about my sexuality. I know I have a long way to go… but I at least I feel like I have taken the first step towards the ultimate goal.
In Maldives, where talking about sex in public is considered a taboo while we think about it 24/7, talking openly about themes and topics from a homosexual perspective and homosexuality itself is nothing but blasphemy. Yet I decided to make my voice heard, how meek, feeble and cowardly it may sound. And maybe one day I would not have to hide behind anonymity but stand equal to my fellow heterosexual Maldivian, with equal rights and opportunities, with a voice perhaps louder than his. This might not happen in my life time, but hopefully I would rest in peace knowing I contributed to my best in these very unfavouring conditions.
So for now here I am, slightly wishing that God gave me something a bit easy, yet thankful that He gave me something. I stand proud, as God made me… I stand gay.
The colours of rainbow have a special meaning for me, especially since I live in Maldives and do not have the luxury or the desire to flee the country like many in my situation has done. The spirit in yellow, the celebration in green, the diversity in purple, the courage in red, the equality in blue, and the community the colour aqua represents and the joy of orange is where my hopes and dreams lie.
Being gay in Maldives is difficult. But I and my fellow gay and lesbian brothers and sisters need to make our existence more known despite the difficulties; maybe in the form of an FB status, a profile picture or maybe a blog post. In order to grow and become a full human we need to embrace our whole selves, including our sexuality. I realized that, in order to reach my maximum potential I needed to embrace my sexuality. Maybe not scream that out from the rooftops, but by taking the first and most important step of it all, by stop lying to myself about my sexuality. I know I have a long way to go… but I at least I feel like I have taken the first step towards the ultimate goal.
In Maldives, where talking about sex in public is considered a taboo while we think about it 24/7, talking openly about themes and topics from a homosexual perspective and homosexuality itself is nothing but blasphemy. Yet I decided to make my voice heard, how meek, feeble and cowardly it may sound. And maybe one day I would not have to hide behind anonymity but stand equal to my fellow heterosexual Maldivian, with equal rights and opportunities, with a voice perhaps louder than his. This might not happen in my life time, but hopefully I would rest in peace knowing I contributed to my best in these very unfavouring conditions.
So for now here I am, slightly wishing that God gave me something a bit easy, yet thankful that He gave me something. I stand proud, as God made me… I stand gay.
Posted in: True Stories
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